Pneumatic pump



(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 1.

U. CUMMINGS. PNEUMATIC PUMP.

No. 465,243. Patented Dec. 15, 1891'.

. 71 .L v lllllllll IIII'IIPI E0 yezzi u 2*.

111: nonn ls PETERS 00., Puo-ro-umm, wuummcu, n. c.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

U. CUMMINGS.

PNEUMATIC PUMP.

No. 465,243. Patented Dec. 15, 1891.

nsaikw A.

THE NORRIS PETERS CO, PHOTO'LITKO-I WASHENGYON, IL (I.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

URIAII CUMMINGS, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

. PNEUMATIC PUMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 465,243, dated December15, 1891. Application filed November 19, 1890. Serial No. 871,915. (llomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, URIAH CUMMINGS, a citizen of the United States,residing at New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State ofConnecticut, have invented new and use ful Improvements in PneumaticPumps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to pneumatic pumps or water-elevators which areoperated by compressed air, and in which the water is allowed to flowinto a submerged chamber, from which it is expelled and elevated by thedirect pressure of the compressed air upon the liquid in the chamber.

The objects of my invention are to provide a reliable automatic pumpingapparatus-of this character, having a valve mechanism of simpleconstruction, the principal part of which can be placed above Water in alocation where access can be conveniently had thereto, and to utilizethe waste air for cooling the elevated water. i

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a sectional elevation of myimproved pumping apparatus, showing the parts in the position in whichcompressed air is admitted to the water-chamber and the water is beingexpelled from the latter. Fig.2 isa sectional elevation of the valvemechanism, showing the parts in a reversed position, in which thecompressed air is cut off from the water-chamber and the water isallowed to enter the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of thewater-chamber.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A represents the submerged water-chamher, which consists of acylindrical shell, constructed, preferably, of wrought iron 01' steeland provided with heads, which are riveted to the body of the shell.

a represents water-inlet openings, formed in the heads of the chamberand provided at their inner ends with valve-seats a; and a are dependinginlet-valves, pivoted within the water-chamber and closing against thevalveseats a.

B is the ascending discharge-pipe of the water-chamber, and B is a tankor receiver, which receives the elevated water, and from which it isconducted to the place of consumption by a pipe I). The water-dischargepipe B enters the tank or receiver through its top and is preferablyprovided with an elongated perforated nozzle B arranged horizontally inthe upper portion of the receiver, whereby the water is delivered intothe receiver in the form of a spray. The ascending pipe B is providedwith the usual check-valve b for preventing backward flow of the water.

C is a chamber of the main or primary valve, whereby the flow of air toand from the water-chamber is controlled.

D is the air-supply pipe, which enters the primary-valve chamber, and eis the air-pipe, which connects the primary-valve chamber with thewater-chamber. The pipe e connects with the valve-chamber near themiddle, and the pipe D enters the valve-chamber above the pipe 6.

F represents a piston-valve having three heads f f f and arranged in theprimary chamber so as to slide therein.

g is the air-exhaust pipe connected with the primary-valve chamber belowthe air-pipe c.

The heads f f f are so arranged in relation to the air-supply pipe D eand exhaustpipe 9 that when the valveis in the depressed positionrepresented in Fig. 1 communication is established between theair-supply pipe D and the air-pipe e and cut off between said pipes andthe exhaust-pipe g, while when the valve is in the reversed positionillustrated in Fig. 2 the air-pipe is placed in communication with theeXhaust-pipe g and cut off from the supply-pipe D.

H represents a cylindrical air chamber or pocket communicating with theupper end of the primary-valve chamber C. When the primary valve iselevated, the air in the pocket His compressed, forming an air-cushionor spring, which returns the valve to its depressed position when theair-pressure is removed from the lower end of the valve. An N adjustableplunger or piston 2' is arranged inthe pocket H for varying the capacityof the pocket and increasing or reducing thetension of the air-spring.It is obvious that any other suitable spring may be substituted for thisair-cushion.

J is the chamber of the secondary valve, whereby the movements of theprimary valve are controlled.

K is a branch air-pipe connecting the upper portion of this chamber withthe airpipe e.

L is an air-pipe leading from the central portion of the secondarywalvechamber to the lower end of the primary-valve chamber, and M is anexhaust pipe or opening arranged in the secondary-valve chamber belowthe airpipe L and opening into the atmosphere.

N represents the secondary valve formed by a duplex-piston valve havingtwo headsn n, whereby communication is alternately established andinterrupted between the branch pipe K and valve-pipeLand betweenthelatter and the exhaust M. The branch pipe K and the valve-pipe L are incommunication, and the exhaust is closed when the valve is in theelevated position represented in Fig. 2. The branch pipe is shut oft andthe valvepipe is placed in communication with the exv haust when thevalve is in the reversed position represented in Fig. 1.

'0 represents a check-valve arranged in the branch pipe K and openingtoward the secondary Valve, whereby the air confined in the valve-pipe Land the lower portion of the primary-valve chamber is preventedfromescaping into the pipe 6 while the water is filling the chamber A.

p represents the rod or stem of the secondary valve, which extendsdownwardly through a tube q, and is guided at its lower end in a bearingg, secured in a chamber or enlargement Q, arranged on one side of thewaterchamber, and with which the lower end of the tube q is connected.The valve-rod p is provided within the casing Q with a yoke r.

S is a float of any suitable construction arranged within thewater-chamber A and attached by long arms to a horizontal rock-shaft t.The latter is journaled at its ends in bearings secured to the interiorof the waterchamber at one side thereof adjacent-to the chamber Q, asrepresented in Fig. 3.

t is a short actuating-arm mounted upon the rock-shaft t and projectinginto the chamber Q, in which it engages in the yoke r, so as tointermittently move the same and the valve connected therewith inopposite directions as the float rises and falls. The floatarms beinglong and the yoke-arm being short, the float operates upon the secondaryvalve with a considerable leverage, whereby the proper movement of thevalve is insured. The rod of the secondary valve moves freely throughthe tube, which connects the second- -ary-valve casing with theenlargement at the valve and thence through the supply-pipe e to thewater-chamber, where it presses upon the water and forces the latter outof the chamber. The secondary valve is also, in its depressed position,so that the valve-pipe L is in communication with the exhaust and theprimary valve is held in its depressed position by the air-spring. Whenthe float S reaches the limit of its downward movement by the dischargeof the water from the water-chamber, which position of the float isshown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, the short actuating-arm 0f the floatraises the yoke, thereby raising the secondary valve, closing theexhaustof the secondary valve, and establishing communication between theair-pipe e and the lower end of the primary-valve chamber. Compressedair now enters the valve-chamber below the primaryvalve and raises thelatter to the reversed position represented in Flg. 2.

The supply-pipe D is now shut-01f from the air-pipe e and'the latter isplaced in communication with the exhaust-pipe g of the pr1 mary-valvechamber, allowing the air in the water-chamber to escape though saidexhaustpipe and permitting the water to fill the chamber. As thelatterbecomes filled the float rises, and as soon as the latter reachesthe limit of its upward movement the secondary valve is-lowered to theposition represented in Fig. 1, thereby breaking the communicationbetween the pipes K L, and establishing communication between the pipe Land the exhaust M. The airpressurebein'g nowremoved from thelower end ofthe primary valve, the air-cushion returns the primary valve to thedepressed positlon represented in Fig. 1, thereby reversing the latterand again admitting compressed air to the water-chamber for expellingand elevating the contents thereof. The air underneath the primary valveis exhausted through the pipe valve cannot descend while the chamber Ais filling with water. The compressed air which is exhausted from thewater-chamber passes through the exhaust-pipe g into the tank B,preferably below the spray-nozzle and above the surface of the water inthe tank, whereby the water is cooled. The exhaust-air is dischargedfrom the tank through a vent-pipe a.

In my improved apparatus the secondary valve, connected by a rod withthe float, is arranged near the cylinder, and may be submerged, as it isa single-acting valve and so simple in construction that it is notliable to get out of order. The primary valve, however, can be arrangedat a considerable distance from the water-compressing chamber, as it isconnected with the secondary Valve by a single air-pipe. This pipe canbe easily conducted uphill and downhill and around obstructions, andthis enables the primary valve to be placed above high water and at'valve is located, thereby making this valve readily accessible at alltimes and placing it under the observation of the attendant, whereby thelong delays are avoided which take place when a submerged valve gets outof order.

The action of my improved apparatus is intermittent; but it is obviousthat several independent pumps rnay be arranged side by side andoperated to elevate water alternately or successively to produce aconstant flow by connecting all of the several'discharges with a commondischarge-conduit and supplying all the pumps from one supply-pipe. Inthis manner each apparatus operates independently of the other and iscontrolled by its own valve mechanism, so that although the severalpumps together elevate water constantly, they are unaffected byvariations in the air-pressure or in the height of the water.

The exhaust-air from the pipe 9, being reduced in temperature to nearlythe freezingpoint as soon as relieved from compression, serves to coolthe Water in the tank or receiver by being delivered against the wateras it enters the tank, thereby considerably reducing the temperature ofthe water, which is especially desirable in warm weather. Bydeliver'ingthewater into the tank in the form of a spray it is morethoroughly exposed to the cooling action of the "incoming exhaustair,especially when two or more pumps discharge into one receiver, in whichcase, the haust of air from one pump will coincide with the discharge ofwater from another pump. The exhaust-air which is ordinarily wasted isthus utilized and the elevated water is thus cooled without extraexpense.

I do not wish to claim anything in this application which is claimed inanother pending application, filed by me April 26, 1890, Serial No.349,646.

I claim as niy invention- 1. The combinati0n,with the water-chamberprovided with a float, of a primary valve whereby the flow of air to andfrom the Waterchamber is controlled, a single-actingsecondary valveactuated by the float, a pipe leading from the secondary valve to theprimary valve, whereby pressure is applied to the primary valve in onedirection, and an air cushion or spring whereby pressure is applied tothe primary valve in an opposite directlon, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination,with the water-chamber provided with a float, of anair-supply pipe, a primary-valve mechanism connected therewith, anair-pipe connecting the primaryvalve mechanism with the water-chamber, asecondary-valve mechanism actuated by the float, a branch pipeconnecting the secondaryvalve chamber with the air-pipe leading from theprimary-valve chamber to the waterfchamber, and a check-Valve arrangedin said branch pipe, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with the water-chamber provided with a supply-pipefor compressed air and a receiverv into which the Water is forced fromsaid chamber, of an exhaust-pipe leading from the water-chamber to saidreceiver, whereby the exhausted air is delivered into the receiver forcooling the water, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with the water-chamber provided with a supply-pipefor com- URIAH CUMMINGS.

\Vitnesses:

FRED C. EARLE, LILLIAN D. KELsEY.

